St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-03-03
HOME CULTURE CLUBS.
MIR. Geo. w. Cables Scheme for Mutual
Benefit and Culture.

Arthur F. Stone, Northampton, in ". Y. Tribune.
Mr.. George w. Gable, has lived only
a year in his northern home, yet he is
to-day one of the best-knOwn citizens
of Northampton, prominent in all So
cial and religious movements and
leader of Bible class numbering over
one hundred scholars. His home,
which bears the suggestive name of
"RedhOuse," is always open to visitors.
The other evening the author was
found with the manuscript of an I'M
finished story, the conclusion to CarOn
crO' and Grande POinte before him.
He was, however, ready to- talk about
his new scheme for literary and social
culture, the details of which he has re-
served until it's success has been clear
~ demonstrated. His scheme was to
form what he has called Home Culture
Clubs and the plan may be best out
lined in his own words:
''These Home Culture Clubs are
founded on the idea of avoiding GER
tain long recognized drawbacks that
attend other schemes for the elevation
of the individuals in the less fortunate
walks of life. Lecture courses, read
ing rooms, and the work of the Young
Mems Christian Associations offer the
means of elevation to those who are
supposed to need encouragement in
halls more or less public, and in almost
every case completely removed from
the domestic life of the individual.
The Chatauqua circles occupy the OPP
pOsite pole, for they are addressed to
the individual in his entire privacy.
The Home Culture Clubs propose to
occupy middle ground and present il
mode of work that is unsectarian in
character, and is not striving for the
abatement of any public evil nor the
elevation of some class, but the mutual
benefit of the individual for each ones
own sake. The clubs are intended to
consist of not more than six members
each, and to represent at least hall
that number of homes. Thus the clubs
instead of suhStracting from, add to
the home. Weekly meetings are held
from house to house, and great liberty
is allowed the members in selecting
the common pursuit by which they
will seek their mutual culture. The
leaders of the clubs are picked men
and women of tact and attainments, and
the number of each club is kept 81
small that personal contact shall be
the closer and that each home repre-
scented slsall feel the influence of the
clubs presence once every few weeks.
In addition tn weekly meetings, the
clubs gather in general meeting about
once in six weeks for an evenings en-
tertaiment, Il public rather than IL so
eial meeting, and to make their own
and hear each others reports of the
work done, and in general, to get the
stimulation and encouragement 81
members, competitive effort, and the
knowledge of one another's mistakes
and successes"
1t was intended that these club,
should be of slow growth but there art
now six in active operation in this city
and new ones are being formed every
week La one month these clubs have
read 1000 pages from the standard
authors and literary taste has beer
developed in all the members, most O
whom are employees in the factories
and mills. The success of the under
taking is already assured, and Mr.
Cable anticipates that other Clubs will
be formed in adjoining cities ano
towns.